Manson's confirmation stalled by politics

President Bush urged the Senate today to "put aside politics" and confirm Charles Manson as ambassador to Qo'noS.

Future ambassador
Charles Manson

"Charles Manson is a good man," Bush said. "Questions about his ... management style shouldn't be part of the confirmation process."

The president is dismayed, said White House press secretary Scott McClellan, that scarcely three months after the first Bird-of-Prey entered orbit, Democratic obstructionism has already begun.

Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice has critized the two delays that have already occurred as a result.

"The president deserves to have the person at the Klingon High Council that he thinks best to carry out the job," Rice said.

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) disagreed.

"He's a bloody loon," Reid said. "Manson, I mean. He has tantrums. He throws things. He's said publically that the Klingon High Council is a bunch of pansies.

"Do we really want him as our representative to a warrior race with photon torpedos and disrupter cannons?

Reid said that Senate Democrats would consider blocking Manson's confirmation by filibuster.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) called that approach unfair.

"Charles Manson deserves an up-or-down vote by the full Senate," Frist said. "By all 44 spineless Democrats and all 55 goose-stepping Republicans.

"This 'filibuster' tactic has never been used before in the history of the Senate," Frist said. "Now that we're the majority party, we see no further use for it."

Until Manson is confirmed, Klingon imperial diplomats are meeting directly with the president. Asked for comment, the Klingon lead ambassador replied only, "P'tahk!"

White House staff say "p'tahk" is a Klingon compliment for one of high intelligence.